Influence of a knee brace intervention on perceived pain and patellofemoral loading in recreational athletes

Background: The current investigation aimed to investigate the effects of an intervention using knee bracing on pain symptoms and patellofemoral loading in male and female recreational athletes. Methods: Twenty participants (11 males & 9 females) with patellofemoral pain were provided with a knee brace which they wore for a period of 2 weeks. Lower extremity kinematics and patellofemoral loading were obtained during three sport specific tasks, jog, cut and single leg hop. In addition their self-reported knee pain scoreswere examined using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. Datawere collected before and after wearing the knee brace for 2 weeks. Findings: Significant reductions were found in the run and cut movements for peak patellofemoral force/pressure and in all movements for the peak knee abduction moment when wearing the brace. Significant improvements were also shown for Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score subscale symptoms (pre: male= 70.27, female = 73.22 & post: male = 85.64, female = 82.44), pain (pre: male = 72.36, female = 78.89 & post: male = 85.73, female = 84.20), sport (pre: male = 60.18, female = 59.33 & post: male = 80.91, female =79.11), function and daily living (pre: male = 82.18, female = 86.00 & post: male = 88.91, female = 90.00) and quality of life (pre: male= 51.27, female= 54.89 & post: male= 69.36, female= 66.89). Interpretation:Male and female recreational athleteswho suffer frompatellofemoral pain can be advised to utilise knee bracing as a conservative method to reduce pain symptoms